14 Pentecost/Year A/1st Sunday in the Season of Creation: Pray
September 3, 2023
Romans 12:9-21; Psalm 26:1-8; Matthew 16:21-28
Opening Prayer: A Prayer for Our Time and for the Earth
(Bishop Carol Gallagher, from the 2019 meeting of the House of Bishops, Fairbanks, Alaska)
Dear God, Creator of the earth, this sacred home we share: Give us new eyes to see the beauty all around and to protect the wonders of creation. Give us new arms to embrace the strangers among us and to know them as family. Give us new ears to hear and understand those who live off the land and sea, and to hear and understand those who extract its resources. Give us new hearts to recognize the brokenness in our communities and to heal the wounds we have inflicted. Give us new hands to serve the earth and its people and to shape beloved community. For you are the One who seeks the lost, binds our wounds and sets us free, and it is in the name of Jesus the Christ we pray. Amen.
You’ve probably noted in today’s bulletin, and in my church emails this past week, that we will be joining with the worldwide community in the next five weeks, to celebrate the Season of Creation.
I’d like to begin, this week, by giving you a brief overview about the Season of Creation as noted in this year’s Season of Creation Episcopal Liturgical Guide.
In the introduction section from the Season of Creation Episcopal Liturgical Guide, we are told that the celebration of this Season began when Ecumenical Patriarch Dimitrios I established a Day of Prayer for Creation for the Orthodox in 1989. The World Council of Churches extended the celebration into our current pattern, as we observe now. The yearly themes, logos, and other resources are provided by the ecumenical organization to which we belong as members of the Anglican Communion.
This year’s theme is: Let Justice and Peace Flow.
Continuing in the introduction of this year’s theme, it sheds light on the chosen theme for this year:
Prophet Amos cries out: “But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” (Amos 5:24) and so we are called to join the river of justice and peace, to take up climate and ecological justice, and to speak out with and for communities most impacted by climate injustice and the loss of biodiversity. As the people of God, we must work together on behalf of all Creation, as part of that mighty river of peace and justice.
It goes on to tell us about the symbol for 2023:
The symbol for 2023 is a mighty river. Biodiversity is being lost at a rate not seen since the last mass extinction. The futures of young people are threatened by the cascading impacts of the loss of biodiversity and a changing climate. The urgency grows and we must make visible peace with Earth and on Earth, at the same time that justice calls us to repentance and a change of attitude and actions. As we join the river of justice and peace with others then hope is created instead of despair.
Why is it important to mark the Season of Creation?
• Because of the urgency of climate and ecological crisis and the need for a bold, prophetic response.
• Because of our Gospel call to grow in faith as we affirm that God in Christ loves, redeems, and sustains the whole of Creation, not only human beings.
The Season of Creation Guide goes on to give some detailed information on why it’s important to mark the Season of Creation. The full guide can be found on St Peter’s website, on the Devotions and Resource Page. There is a lot of helpful info included there, that I hope you can further explore in your time of reflection and prayer throughout the coming weeks.
Season of Creation Episcopal Liturgical Guide
And starting on Monday Sept 11-Oct 9, we will have Creation Care Conversations at 11am (on zoom) to talk more about some of the questions and wonderings and challenges that are addressed in this guide.
On Sundays, we will focus on a 5-fold Creation Care Pattern, to guide our time together. This idea was provided in the Liturgical Guide by The Rev. Margaret Bullitt-Jonas, who has oriented her creation care ministry around a four-fold pattern of Pray, Learn, Act, and Advocate approaches for resources and inspiration. To this, it was suggested to add Bless as a fifth approach so that these may be considered as guiding themes for each of five Sundays in the Season.
So, as is important to any time we find ourselves embarking on a new journey, or in the midst of a new season, or as we transition from one place to another, or as we find ourselves, stuck perhaps…wondering, what can I possibly do to have an impact on these urgent needs for all of Creation…we begin this week, on this first Sunday of the Season of Creation, with the reminder to always begin with PRAYER…
To Pray, first…to pray often…to pray without ceasing…to pray for guidance, to pray every time we face hard, difficult, confusing decisions, to pray for forgiveness and insight on how to change our attitude and actions for the good of all Creation, to pray for our eyes, ears, hearts and minds to be opened by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and through the teachings of Jesus, helping us to learn to trust more, in these divine encounters, that can help align ourselves with God’s will, and one another…that can strengthen us, support us, transform us in all we, as the people of God are being called to do together on behalf of all Creation, as part of that mighty river of peace and justice.
In Paul’s letter to the Romans today, these opening words give us a strong foundation, and guiding principles to keep in mind, in all our interactions and discussions, as we begin this new journey together, on behalf of all Creation…
Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor.
Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord.
Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in PRAYER.
Persevere in PRAYER….in all times, in all places, and in all circumstances, and especially now, as we are being called to join the river of justice and peace with others, so that through the love of God, made known to us in Jesus, and through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, healing will be possible, hope will be created, and all of God’s creation will be renewed and restored as the beloved community, as it was created to be.
Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in PRAYER.
Rev Julie Platson
St Peter’s by the Sea Episcopal Church, Sitka, AK
Hymn prayer after sermon: God, creator, source of healing
(Voices Found Hymnal)
1 God, creator, source of healing
here we pray for wholeness and health.
Guide our work, our thoughts, and feeling,
guide the sharing of our wealth.
Give discernment in our decisions
give compassion in our care;
reconcile our strife and divisions
as we search for means to share.
2 Jesus, known to friend and seeker
exercising healer’s art,
may the strong support the weaker
showing love with head and heart;
give fresh energy and purpose
when unreasoning blocks your grace,
spare us harm, in danger alert us,
show the radiance of your face.
3 Holy Spirit, bring us wholeness,
come with your transforming love;
give us freedom, hope and boldness,
raise our eyes to see from above;
shape our systems, institutions,
clarify our blinded sight,
as we seek God-given solutions,
help us greet the just and right.
4 Trinity of awe and wonder
yours the glory, yours the praise.
Strike our binding chains asunder,
liberate our cramping ways.
May our lives reflect your splendour,
in abundance Lord we ask.
God, our guide and our befriender,
give new meaning to our task.